Combining accounting data with Bates Stamping feature

Abstract

An accounting record and a numbering record are automatically combined to create Bates numbers that are then automatically applied to the pages of input documents to produce Bates numbered documents. A document can be an electronic document or a printed document. A print job or a scanning job can be associated with an account and the account billed for the job. The account is associated with an accounting record. Choosing the account to bill also selects the accounting record to use for Bates numbering. The numbering record is persistent so that it doesn't change between documents. As such, Bates numbers can be automatically generated and applied to the pages of documents.

1 . A system comprising:
 an electronic document;   an accounting record comprising at least one accounting field;   a numbering record and a number updating module wherein the number updating module automatically changes the numbering record on the occurrence of a Bates numbering event;   a Bates numbering module that uses the accounting record, the numbering record, the electronic document, and a Bates location specification to produces a Bates numbered document comprising at least one page wherein the at least one page comprises at least one Bates number.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the Bates numbered document is a printed document. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a Bates numbering field format wherein the at least one Bates number is formatted in accordance with the Bates numbering field format. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a Bates numbering rule wherein the number updating module uses the Bates numbering rule when changing the numbering record. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising a graphical user interface wherein the graphical user interface is used to control the Bates numbering module. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the electronic document data is a fax data stream. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 a scanner that scans a document to produce an electronic document comprising at least one page;   an accounting record comprising at least one accounting field;   a numbering record and a number updating module wherein the number updating module automatically changes the numbering record on the occurrence of a Bates numbering event;   a Bates numbering module that uses the accounting record, the numbering record, and a Bates location specification to apply a Bates number to the at least one page to thereby produce a Bates numbered electronic document.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising a Bates numbering field format wherein the at least one Bates number is formatted in accordance with the Bates numbering field format. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  further comprising a Bates numbering rule wherein the number updating module uses the Bates numbering rule when changing the numbering record. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a graphical user interface wherein the graphical user interface is used to control the Bates numbering module. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising a fax transmitter that transmits the Bates numbered electronic document as a fax data stream. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 obtaining one of at least one input page wherein an input document comprises the at least one input page;   automatically producing a Bates number from an accounting record and a numbering record wherein the accounting record comprises at least one accounting field;   applying the Bates number to the one of at least one input page to produce one of at least one Bates numbered page wherein a Bates numbered document comprises the at least one Bates numbered page; and   automatically updating the numbering record.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the input document is an electronic document. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the output document is a printed document. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the output document is an electronic document. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising formatting the Bates number is formatted in accordance with a Bates numbering field format. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising changing the numbering record based on a Bates numbering rule. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 using a graphical user interface to control the automatic production of the Bates number;   formatting the Bates number is formatted in accordance with a Bates numbering field format;   changing the numbering record based on a Bates numbering rule; and   wherein the input document is an electronic document, and wherein the output document is an electronic document.